Chapter 17 - Clarification - mduno
The Cárdenas brothers were older; I know they couldn't stand being outdone by a young, impulsive rookie. However, from the moment I took charge of the organization, the profits skyrocketed.
The drugs were safer to move with my strategies, and if I wasn't careful, they'd play a dirty trick on me. That's why my security scheme was so strict. Under Rata's command, we were a perfect unit. If I was a demon, he was twice as bad. Nothing escaped him. That's why he'd been on their radar for days.
"That's enough."
Carlos Cárdenas was the oldest and the most miserable man I know. A thousand times worse than me; at least I have a bit of ethics on my resume.
"Yes, do you want to talk?"
"More than talk, I want an explanation. Why wasn't anyone from the guild invited?"
He couldn't hold my gaze, which was exactly what I wanted, to confirm who was in charge.
"Because you are not part of my new business route. We already have our network positioned in the organization, I believe I told you before; each one can do business on their own, if they have the guts and don't rat out the organization, that's the primary motto."
His face flushed with anger; it wasn't pretty. The poor guy never outgrew puberty.
"So that's how it is?"
Simón moved to my right, and three seconds later, Cebolla positioned himself to my left. My men took strategic positions. Carlos raised one of his eyebrows, and I saw that Miguel, the younger brother, was intimidated. I didn't take my eyes off the older brother until he backed down a bit, once again. That's when I decided to strike and shut them up for good.
"Why are you worried or indignant? You, on your own, move three shipments through the Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama route to the United States. Your new route goes to the African cartel." They looked at each other. "Andrade and his land route to South America or Luna with the tons transported by sea."
"How do you know..."
"That's why I'm in the position I'm in, Cárdenas. Do you think I don't know every move made by the members of the organization?"
I sat down, my men remained standing, guarding my back.
"I know which days you take a shit during the week." I challenged him. "The people I'll be meeting at the convention have nothing to do with you, nor will our routes be compromised. I'm handling my personal business with them. The organization's profits from Colombia won't be affected. I've been working with them for a while. Any problem?"
"None at all, Don Roland."
He signaled his people to bring lunch. That was the end of the conversation. I found myself in front of Verónica's house, puppy included. Simón suggested, well, he subtly insisted with comments like: "You should give her one, she deserves it, she helped Galaxia." Reluctantly, I took the white and gray puppy and handed it to Rata to carry.
This time, Cebolla joined us. I knocked on the door, and her friend opened it. She seemed flustered, who knows why, and got very nervous when she saw me. I had slept with her, but I had no fucking idea when it was.
"Don Roland... You!" Her eyes widened.
"Is Verónica here?"
Rata returned her greeting. My friend had slept with her several times, just like all my brothers. Cebolla had stayed in the car.
"She's still at the university."
"Will she be long?"
She shrugged, hesitated a bit about letting us in or sending us away. I think she wanted to slam the door in my face, so I made the decision easier for her.
"I'll go get her."
"If you want, I can give you her cell number."
"I already have it."
I knew it by heart from the many times I tried to call her. I turned around and signaled to Rata. Twenty minutes later, I was waiting like an idiot at the university exit.
Seeing her walk out alone in the opposite direction... just seeing her was enough to understand what I needed. I had kept her away. She called me an angel, and if she knew what a piece of shit I was, she'd realize I was her opposite.
But she was a true being of light. I walked quickly to catch up with her. My companions stayed in the car; I didn't want to seem cheesy giving her a puppy with so many spectators. She hadn't seen me, and I heard a young man call her.
"Vero!"
I stopped dead in my tracks, my stomach churned when she smiled at him. The guy hugged her, and when they separated, he kept his hand on her waist. Rata came up beside me, I raised an eyebrow, and he shrugged. The "friendly" scene continued right in front of me.
"So, tonight then?"
So, they're meeting tonight? Well, we'll see. What the hell was happening to me? I had no fucking idea, but that asshole wasn't going out with her. I looked at Simón before interrupting.
"Find out where they're going."
He nodded with tight lips; I assumed he was holding back laughter. I must have looked like a maniacal idiot.
"Verónica!"
She was surprised, and the guy frowned. A wave of superiority washed over me; now, who marks the territory better?
"I'll steal your girlfriend for a second."
"He's not my boyfriend!"
She rushed to respond, and I liked her immediate reaction. I shrugged. I acted nonchalant while my insides were churning.
"I'll be at your place around eight!"
Is he going to visit her? I felt like a jar of acid had been dumped into my stomach. I walked beside her toward the truck. Simón was analyzing something on his laptop, which he carried with him twenty-four hours a day. He had discreetly taken a photo of the suitor and was probably tracking him through the databases we had access to.
"Verónica, we're leaving for Santa Marta tomorrow. Try not to stay up late; the plane leaves in the morning." I was about to say something, but I raised my finger to hush him and let me finish. "I'll pay you and hope to give you a good offer."
She opened her mouth and her eyes wide. I smiled at her expression; she had lovely honey-colored eyes just like her hair, or maybe it was the sun that made them look the same.
"Is everything about you money? And you haven't even asked if I want to go or not. Besides, how much can it be for translating what your partners say?" At home, Rata had mentioned it to her.
"Not just for translating what they say, but because you'll be at every location, and that's unpleasant. Plus, your silence is required. Do you accept?"
"Don't pay me too much, Roland."
She put her hands in her purple jacket. She was wearing pants, and I remembered her injuries.
"Don't your wounds hurt?" She looked at herself and smiled.
"No, they've healed very well. I took the stitches out myself."
"It was irresponsible to do what you did."
I wasn't reassured by her explanation. External wounds heal first; that doesn't mean they're closed internally. I didn't dwell on the matter.
"When I tell you the fee, you just need to tell me if you want it now, half now and half later, or afterward."
"I want it afterward. What time is my flight?"
I sighed with satisfaction. She didn't object to going with me to Santa Marta; she accepted the job.
"At ten. Should I pick you up?"
"Are we on the same flight as Lorena?"
"Yes."
We reached the car. She hadn't confirmed if I should pick her up or not. I wasn't going to be the fool showing my interest. "Stop being so silly, Roland." Should I offer to take her home? I debated whether to offer her a ride or leave her here. Then I remembered something.
"I brought you something."
She seemed a bit uncomfortable, but her eyes sparkled in a different way, and I liked that subtle shine. I opened the back door to take out the puppy. She covered her mouth, trying in vain to hide her childlike expressions. But what! She was a child, a very lovely child. She extended her arms to receive it, and I felt something strange inside.
I had never done anything like this before. I thought I never would. Now look at me. She buried her face in the puppy's fur. I liked seeing her, how she made me feel like I could be a different person.
"Thank you." Her eyes were still shining. "Sorry to bother you. Since Timón died, I threw away everything related to a canine friend. I need to go to the agricultural and veterinary center to buy the necessary things. I don't have a car. Can you give me a ride?"
"Sure."
My uncertainty cleared up. Rata opened the door for Verónica to get in, and before she did, she approached him and kissed him on the cheek. She kissed him?
"Hi, Simón."
"Miss."
He looked at me, surprised and apologetic at the same time. He didn't need to, but I clenched my jaw. She didn't greet me like that! I had just given her a gift, and she didn't thank me that way. Should I call her out on it?
We got in, and I sat next to her, taking a deep breath. She was kissing and hugging her new dog. More than once, I was caught looking at her. I didn't look away. Cebolla drove to the address Simón had given. When we arrived, I got out, wanting to accompany her, even though she hadn't invited me. Simón looked at me like, "What are you planning to do now?" Verónica smiled.
"Have you thought of a name yet?"
I opened the store door for her. We entered the veterinary world. I had visited the place a couple of times to buy specific supplies for my horse. Otherwise, I had staff who took care of that, coordinated by Churrusco. She went to the counter, and I followed her like a fool.
"Have you vaccinated them?"
I shook my head, forgetting that vital detail. She rolled her eyes, and I couldn't help but laugh. She requested the necessary vaccines, and I saw that she asked for four of each.
"You need to bring me the puppies. They need to be vaccinated."
"I'll follow the doctor's orders for my dogs."
She didn't let go of her puppy and walked around the store, asking about prices. I noticed she discarded the more expensive ones and chose the cheaper options.
"Didn't you like that little house?"
"It's more expensive."
She bit her inner lip. I didn't say anything, just nodded. She rejected it because she didn't have enough money. When the seller wasn't looking, I signaled to him to give her what she liked. We did the same with the puppy's bed, toys, food, and countless other items. I'd never know what they were for. When she went to pay, I didn't let her.
"It was only three hundred thousand pesos!" Verónica told the cashier after they gave her the total. She looked at me with a frown as I took out my wallet.
"Sir, you must be mistaken. My total should be less. Show me what you're giving me!"
The total was almost a million pesos. That was nothing. Why was she upset?
"It doesn't matter. I'll pay."
"What?"
Second sparkle in her lovely honey-colored eyes. I was starting to like that, and I decided to be the promoter of those sparkles.